Thursday, March 13, 2008

It's All That Matters

You'd be surprised how making the playoffs can rescue even the most moribund franchises from fan apathy and turn them into raging hockey markets overnight (ie. Tampa Bay, Carolina).

But the magic from one post-season visit doesn't last long. Just look at the Atlanta Thrashers. They gambled prospects and draft choices (including future all-star Braydon Coburn) for veterans like Keith Tkachuk in order to sneak in last year but now find themselves back in a malaise that has surrounded the franchise since its inception.

The real trick is getting there year after year, and in today's climate of parity, that is going to be much harder in the years ahead. Despite that, a handful of teams have managed to cultivate a winning tradition in the regular season. Others have wallowed in their own misery, creating a "loser" atmosphere that is hard to shake.

Here's a quick chart showing the leaders in both categories.

Made Playoffs Streak (In Years)

Detroit Red Wings ...............+16

Ottawa Senators ..................+10

New Jersey Devils ...............+10

Dallas Stars ..........................+4

Tampa Bay Lightning ...........+4

Calgary Flames ....................+3

Nashville Predators .............+3

San Jose Sharks ...................+3

Missed Playoffs Streak (In Years)

Columbus Blue Jackets .........-6

Florida Panthers ...................-6

Chicago Blackhawks .............-4

Los Angeles Kings ................-4

Phoenix Coyotes ..................-4

Washington Capitals .............-3

The remaining teams are all in streaks of no more than two years either way.

Detroit is set to go 17 straight years in the post-season but they are a long way off from the Boston Bruins record of 29 consecutive appearances (1968-96). In fact, the Red Wings don't even rank in the top 5 all-time. Chicago is in second with 28 straight (1970-97), St. Louis in third with 25 (1980-2004) and two different streaks for Montreal round out the list.

The Ottawa Senators are by far the most successful Canadian team with Calgary on a modest 3 year streak and the Canucks barely hanging on with only a one year cushion to work with. They may not be able to add to it if they can't score any goals down the stretch (with Alain Vigneault in charge, it's a miracle they've scored any at all).

The current teams with minus streaks are all likely to add another year of futility with only Phoenix and Washington with a realistic chance to end their slides. If they get lucky and make it, there are two teams waiting to take their place in Toronto and St.Louis with a current streak of two years out.

If Cliff Fletcher can't sort things out in a hurry, Toronto will be challenging for that top spot in no time.